Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella was absolutely furious as he yelled at the Calgary Flames bench.

You can view the incident below:

This event was reminiscent of the game-opening line brawl between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers back in March 2012. Tortorella, then the Rangers’ coach, was upset at the line Devils bench boss Peter DeBoer chose to start the contest.

“I guess in John’s world you can come into our building and start your tough guys, but we can’t do the same in here,” DeBoer said in response. “He’s either got short-term memory loss or he’s a hypocrite. So it’s one of the other.”

Update: Tortorella hadn’t calmed down by the first intermission. He was seen pushing people in the hallway by the Flames’ dressing room:

This game is in Vancouver. Calgary puts their guys out and Tortorella counters with Sestito who leads the league in PIM and Bieksa taking the draw. Tortorella made a big deal out of Calgary putting their 4th line out to start the game. Its not uncommon to do that. The dude made a stink about nothing and I hope he’s out of a job because of it. I never thought I’d have to tell a guy twice my age…but dude, GROW UP!!

Am I the only one left feeling unfulfilled by “pushing people”? Who did he push? Players? Coaches? Trainers? Media? A kid who won a contest to see the facilities? Give me something there.

esracerx46 - Jan 18, 2014 at 11:31 PM

Its you. The camera is fixed, but you clearly see Torts being restrained as he’s screaming at someone. He was forced back but appeared to force his way closer. If the NHL doesn’t suspend him for this its an abomination. I have a feeling they’ll use the same excuse when they failed to discipline Ray Emery. We don’t have a rule that says Torts can’t push people and make a mockery out of the game on the way to the opposing teams locker room. I give Mcgratton credit, cuz I would have pummeled him. This gives our sport yet another black eye.

There wasn’t a video there when I asked- and all the article said was he attacked someone. It didn’t specify. Good on the writer for the re-re-re-edit- but the original break of this story was basically “I heard someone saw Tortorella pushing someone”.

It was a fixed camera, and they didn’t show any other angles (although there did seem to be cameras). You can see Tortorella in the bottom corner for a second or two being restrained, but that’s about it.

esracerx46 - Jan 18, 2014 at 11:23 PM

What a joke this team has become. I don’t who’s worse, Torotella or the guy that hired him. Torts should be one and done. Hell, if I owned the team I’d be tempted to fire him right now. He’s making a mockery of that team. I’m sorry Canuck fans. Your GM and owner hired a clown as a coach and now you have to watch this circus.

I would usually agree but he fought McGrattan. That is no easy fight. Looked like he bloodied him up a bit as well. So Sestito may actually have earned a draw against one of the toughest fighters in the league.